Please Believe Me (1950) User Reviews

Cute movie!

[karenchurn · 6/10 · 9 December 2011]

I watched this last night and I have to say that it was a fun way to spend 90 minutes. The storyline was zany and I thought that the actors did a good job with what they had to work with. Of course, Deborah Kerr, the reason I even watched this, was lovely and fun to watch. It shows that she was having a good time with this role. Some of her amused facial expressions seemed absolutely genuine. The three men in hot pursuit of Miss Kirbe were amusing and easy on the eyes. James Whitmore is the one who really stood out for me. There was one moment with him that just tickled me to no end. I thought that he looked like a funnier version of Spencer Tracy.

This was #40 in my quest to view all of Deborah Kerr movies and I found it worth the effort. It was nice to see her in a comedy even if it was lightweight. It still confirms that she never phoned in a performance even if the role wasn't "Oscar worthy". This is one that I'm sure that I will watch again.

Lovely light gem

[abcj-2 · 7/10 · 29 October 2011]

Sometimes I wonder why people who don't understand little movies like these didn't just turn them off. No offense to the other reviewers. They are, of course, entitled to their opinions.

However, for the romantics out there that can easily grasp the comic confusion of 3 men after (and sometimes not) one supposed heiress, this is a well-made romantic comedy that would hold up today with gorgeous scenery and a lovely soundtrack. I'm a chick who loves chick flicks. This isn't a guy flick by any stretch unless said guy digs chick flicks. We chicks don't get films like The Departed (this one doesn't care for it), but we romantics get a film like this.

2 of the 3 leads didn't quite make the first tier of films (one died at age 32, sadly). If this film had one more certifiable movie star, then this would have sent it to the level that might have made it memorable to many. I'm so grateful I take a chance and record films like these on TCM and then discover new faces and a new film to keep on my DVR.

This isn't the finest review. This is a suggestion to the lovers of light romantic comedy to record it the next time they see it and give it a look see. It works for me and did for this film, too:)

The heiress

[jotix100 · 6/10 · 25 July 2006]

Alison Kirbe, an English woman who has been corresponding with a man from Texas, is suddenly notified he has died and left her his estate. Little prepares this no-nonsense woman for the adventure she is going to embark as she goes to America where her own future is assured. What she never knows is that three men who want her, for different reasons, are pulling strings to get her money while they are doing their little game behind the scenes. Or for that matter, Alison Kirbe doesn't have a clue as to the real estate value of the property she inherits.

This MGM comedy directed by Norman Taurog, offers some mild fun because of the great work by the principals in this production. It served as a change of pace for its female lead, Deborah Kerr, who had done a lot of dramatic work in the English cinema, as she proved she was well suited for this type of light comedy.

Deborah Kerr is seen in a luxury ship in this film, a place in which she seems a natural, as she plays another romantic lead in the remake of "An Affair to Remember". Ms. Kerr held her own playing opposite Robert Walker, Peter Lawford, and Mark Stevens. The three men in the story are perfectly cast as each brings his own type of persona to the story. Unfortunately, James Whitmore, J. Carrol Nash, and Spring Byington, who are seen in supporting roles don't have much to do in the film.

"Please Believe Me" marked the arrival of Deborah Kerr to her long association with Hollywood where she would leave her mark throughout the years she graced timeless classics for our enjoyment.

Deb's Funny!

[marcslope · 5 June 2002]

According to the TCM notes, Ms. Kerr was offered this by MGM as a respite from her usual dramatic roles. And while she's more remembered for her dramas, she turns out to be a natural comedienne. Playing a presumed heiress courted by three con men (and the one who wins her is a surprise--it's not the biggest star of the three), she offers dry, inventive line readings and priceless facial reactions; the lady even can do slapstick. Kerr was at her prettiest and most spirited here, and it's a relief to learn that MGM resisted the temptation to boost the budget and cast June Allyson. As a shipboard romance, it's an assembly-line job and short on real wit, but its leading lady does sparkle.

a little fun

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 16 July 2020]

In London, Alison Kirbe (Deborah Kerr) receives news that she has inherited a gigantic cattle ranch in Texas from old Hank whom she befriended during the war. The newspaper proclaims her to be a new heiress. In reality, Hank was prown to tall tales and his will is no exception. Alison boards a ship to American and is followed by some men with an eye for her. Terence Keath is an indebted gambler looking to steal her fortune. Vincent Maran (James Whitmore) is watching over him for his boss Lucky Reilly who owns Terence's papers. Rich bachelor Jeremy Tayler is traveling with his lawyer Matthew Kinston who is suspicious of Alison.

The funniest scene is probably the group of old men reading old Hank's will. I love the donkey. The whole section is deadpan hilarity. The rest of the movie is a bit bland. I don't know if Kerr has any comedic chops. She shows a bit of it here or there but she needs to be so much more wackier. The writing doesn't give her enough telephone poles to help her get there. The guys do have some fun at times. Whitmore comes the closest with his constant frustration. It's light. It's harmless. It's nearly funny.

A simple premise

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 15 August 2012]

The film Please Believe Me is based on a simple premise, that people who are from Texas have to be rich and vulgarly so in fact. When Deborah Kerr, a most prim and proper English lass inherits property in Texas everyone assumes she inherited something like South Fork. Especially after the English tabloids get a hold of the story and she goes sailing to the other side of the pond to claim her inheritance.

On ship three guys start buzzing around Kerr, playboy Robert Walker, millionaire Peter Lawford, and lawyer Mark Stevens. Walker has a real good reason for wanting to marry her, he's owing big bucks to gangster/gambler J. Carrol Naish so his courtship is tinged with some big desperation.

People will recognize the resemblance with this and the earlier RKO Ginger Rogers classic, Tom Dick, And Harry. If you think you know who Rogers winds up with after seeing that one, you'll be wrong. Please Believe Me also bears strong resemblance to another MGM film with Jane Wyman, Three Guys Named Mike.

Kerr's career in America was zooming into high gear at this time, she was doing a number of classic films like King Solomon's Mines and Edward My Son. This one is funny, but it seems like it was done as an afterthought, all the men and her happened to be free so let's do this property we've had sitting around for a while.

Funny, but Please Believe Me won't be on anyone's top ten.

Confusing.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 4/10 · 26 July 2007]

What's this movie really about? Who are all those characters? What do they want? This movie truly confuses me.

The movie is filled with many characters who are all after one thing; money. They think they can get it from the British Alison Kirbe (Deborah Kerr) who just inherited a livestock ranch in Texas. They all try to win her love for different reason but all money involved. After a while it starts to get extremely confusing who all those characters are, who is with who and what do they want exactly. Terence, Matthew, Jeremy, Vincent, Lucky Reilly, I mean who are all those people? They all look and act so much alike! Who's good, who's bad and for what man does Alison Kirbe eventually fall for and just why him? This movie gives me an headache just thinking about it! At the end the movie become even more confusing when everybody apparently start to scam each other, for whatever reason. The movie had reached a point at that time that I couldn't even care less what was going on and happening to the characters.

Guess the writer thought he was really being clever by putting as many plot twists as possible in the movie. It just doesn't work and makes things extremely confusing to follow. But also the entire execution of the script is below average. The movie doesn't always flow well and it seemed that director Norman Taurog also had no idea what he was shooting. The sequences are just put together after each other but it doesn't make one big well flowing whole piece.

And apparently this was supposed to be a comedy but for a comedy this movie surely does lack some laughs or even humor for that matter. Are the situations supposed to be funny? Are the characters supposed to be funny? Is the dialog supposed to be humorous? Fact is that the movie only just mildly entertains at points.

The movie gets also restrained by its settings. Its for most part set aboard a ship. It provides the movie with all of the usual sequences and settings and therefor also becomes rather formulaic.

Not a recommendable movie, unless you want an headache.

4/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

It may be horror producer Val Lewton's only romantic comedy...

[moonspinner55 · 4/10 · 5 September 2006]

Deborah Kerr plays no-nonsense British lass who inherits a ranch from her Texas pen-pal and sails for the States; aboard ship, she is wooed by three bachelors: a lawyer, a millionaire playboy, and a con-artist. Sleek, genteel comedy plays like a blue-haired drawing-room farce. Kerr chirps along happily, but there's really no character here for her--just the outline of one (we can't even be sure what she did for a living back in London). Although there are no big laughs, amiable second-banana James Whitmore steals all his scenes with little effort. Extremely minor offering, one of the very last from famed producer Val Lewton, and perhaps just glossy enough to engage Kerr's fans. ** from ****

It starts off very well....

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 28 February 2018]

When the story begins, Alison (Deborah Kerr) learns she has just inherited a ranch in Texas. She and those around her assume she's wealthy. On the cruise ship across the Atlantic to the States, three men all set after her. Terence (Robert Walker) is a crook and plans on bilking Alison. Jeremy (Peter Lawford) is rich and plans on winning her with his charm. And, finally, Matthew (Mark Stevens) is with the DA's office and falls for her...but also wonders if she might be a crook because she's often with Terence and his 'gentlemans gentleman' (James Whitmore)...a crook Matthew recognizes.

The film started off well and I enjoyed it through the long ocean voyage. But when the film made it to land, it really sank. The plot just got dumb and the film dragged....so much so that I longed for it all to end.

Miss Kerr gets the big rush on the high seas

[jjnxn-1 · 8/10 · 22 October 2013]

Silly bauble put over by expert comic players. This was early in Deborah Kerr's Hollywood career before From Here to Eternity moved her to the front ranks and Metro was still trying to figure out what to do with her. Here her English reserve is put to good use as the three men put the big rush on her and she slowly loosens up but always manages to keep them at bay by her brains and dignity. She always was a quite charming comedienne able to elevate material like this.

The film also has several other excellent comic actors who similarly buoy the script with their charm. Peter Lawford wasn't much of a dramatic actor but for suave sophistication with a light touch, which is needed here, few were better. Two wonderful all around actors, Robert Walker and James Whitmore, are paired as a devious couple of wannabe swindlers who seem too goodhearted to be very successful at their work. The weak link, if he can be called that, is Mark Stevens, he's not bad but he lacks the breezy skill and screen presence of his fellow actors.

The film is a minor credit on all the performers resume and one of the endless trifles churned out by MGM at its peak but on that basis it's a very pleasant diversion

'Three Guys Named Mike' is better

[HotToastyRag · 2/10 · 3 April 2018]

In the same vein of Tom, Dick, and Harry and Three Guys Named Mike, this romantic comedy pairs a moderately attractive female lead with three flawed suitors, leaving the audience to groan when the credits roll after she's chosen the wrong man. Even if you love Deborah Kerr, Please Believe Me isn't the best movie to rent. She was terribly miscast; this should have been another vehicle for Jane Wyman, or Barbara Stanwyck in her Ball of Fire phase.

Deborah Kerr has inherited a Texas ranch, and while on the boat from England to America, three men pursue her. Robert Walker is a gold digger, Peter Lawford is a womanizer, and Mark Stevens is just a jerk. None of the characters are sympathetic, and the second half of the movie involves everyone in an uninteresting side plot about gambling. Since the first half wasn't that great to begin with, it's even more of a letdown. This really isn't that great of a movie, so if you want to watch Deborah Kerr in a comedy, rent The Grass is Greener instead.

Please Believe Me-Believe Me It's A Real Stinker *

[edwagreen · 1/10 · 25 July 2006]

Just goes to show you when people are under contract.

A stellar cast of Deborah Kerr, Robert Walker, Peter Lawford, and Mark Stevens are put into this absolute classic stinker.

Seems that during World War 11, Kerr met an old U.S. soldier who leaves her farmland that's an absolute piece of junk-just like this movie.

Walker is a con-artist who thinks that Kerr has landed a lot of money and tries to woo her. On board the board, there's Lawford with his 14 million and his lawyer Stevens. Walker has his crony, James Whitmore, who is the only funny person in this.

Scenes include a tie scene which is utterly ridiculous. Naturally, Walker is being financed to fleece Kerr by hoodlum J. Carrol Naish.

The film becomes even more ridiculous when it's discovered that Kerr's land is worthless. Having run up debt, she tries to sell the hotel rug and of course winds up with one of our gallant 3.

A weak plot is further done in by poor writing. Norman Taurog, a great director, who won the Oscar for directing "Skippy" years before is straddled with his mess. He probably needed that dog to help out with this clinker.

Grifter farce with twists galore

[greenfrog · 10/10 · 27 December 2004]

What superb direction -- and please, hard as it is, believe this is the same Norman Taurog that basted more Elvis Presley turkeys than any other director. Here, Taurog is the star, slowed down only by an uneven cast and a script that creaked in a couple of places as it flexed its plot. Deborah Kerr is supreme, though, as the sentimental English poppy who is tricked up and down until she buckles on her sound, common sense English ingenuity and carries the day. And she had some carrying to do: co-star Mark Stevens is pure avoirdupois with no sense of the camera. Nice jackets, though. Peter Lawford is perfect as the rich guy with a sense of fun, flaunting his sleek biceps and slim waist in a swimming pool scene he steals with aplomb. The script is a beaut, too, but the way Taurog fills each scene with exposition and shtick is a joy to behold. The lighting is highly skilled 40s workmanship. And check the roulette scene for b/w colour play. But the scene that is all Seven Wonders of Hollywood script- writing rolled into one is the showdown in gangster Quinn's office. Unbeatable for its half a dozen plot twists inside three minutes. Believe me.

Spotty, But Has Its Moments

[dougdoepke · 21 October 2017]

Zippy little comedy that never bogs down thanks to both director Taurog's pacing skills and writer Curtis's snappy dialogue, though plot developments don't make much sense. But then, this is a comedy. There's more amusement than hilarity even though the ensemble cast doesn't meld that well. The plot's something about the guys trying to romance Kerr out of her big Texas ranch. But get a load of that big inheritance ranch that none of plotters nor even Kerr have seen. It's a hundred miles of nothing, so someone's in for a big surprise. Meanwhile the guys shuffle in and out of Kerr's life whether on shipboard or in hotel rooms, while she slowly succumbs.

Kerr does well enough as the lady-like mark, though I don't think she looks comfortable. However, Mark Stevens comes across as something of a bland dead spot among Kerr's prospective suitors. Fortunately, he later found his strength as a successful director and producer. The surprise is tough guy Whitmore who shows a spirited comedic side that viewers of the Asphalt Jungle or Battleground might never suspect. And who would think horror meister Val Lewton-- Cat People, I Walked With A Zombie--- would act as producer of a comedy like this one.

Overall, it's a fairly pleasant little diversion if you're not expecting too much. Plus, I can't help thinking the filming would have been better done in Technicolor rather than the bland b&w that flattens what should be livelier visuals.